Page 86 - FDI Alliance International Magazine, July 2019 Interactive Issue_Neat

BALANCED APPROACH IN PORTAGE COUNTY

As I sat in the Holiday Inn and Convention Center keeping the talent as they leave from high school or a way to allow job applicants to learn more about
in Stevens Point WI, I couldn’t help but think what a the technical college or our local university. PCBC our community. Family members can research the
bright future these students have in front of them. is working with firms and schools to engage with community right alongside the candidate in whatever
These juniors and seniors from Stevens Point Area them and the students. In our community, there area of interest they choose. We are beginning a
Senior High (SPASH) were being honored for their are reality workshops, mock interviews, career digital marketing campaign this summer and will
efforts in the youth apprenticeship program. Many fairs and heavy metal tours to name a few. All of be putting up signs along the major highways that
parents, business partners and community leaders them are designed to offer the students practical crisscross our town to get the word out.
were in attendance. experience to prepare them for the workplace. A
workplace that is going to look drastically different We also are growing our work in leadership.
The senior students who spoke shared what they than it does now. Our business community gladly Businesses and colleges can train for the skills they
learned through their efforts. One talked about responds to volunteer, or at least the ones that “get it”. need. We can work with them to train future leaders
how his Mom had to drag him kicking and screaming and give employees what they want, a business
to the introductory meeting and it was the best We also are growing our program to engage students that cares. Our leadership programming begins
decision he ever made, with a little encouragement with businesses through technology beginning in the in high school and there are several opportunities
from Mom. Another spent most of the experience sixth grade. Inspire, soon to be Xello, offers students for adult employees, whether it be small group or
convincing Mom and Dad that it was an exceptional the chance to do research on local businesses through larger presentations and simulcasts.
opportunity. Several talked about going on to a safe portal. Businesses can set up a profile that
Mid-State Technical College and how they already markets their business, jobs, job openings, tours
earned a few college credits and loads of skills. and many other ways for students to learn more.
This has expanded into a statewide program. The
As the Portage County Business Council, we focus on biggest challenge as we all know is educating the
four main economic development targets: business parents and, helping to dismiss the many myths
attraction, business retention, talent attraction they have about different organizations. Inspire
and talent retention. The last two are the first is a tool that can help with that, learning right Todd Kuckkahn
two priorities, which is fairly common across the alongside their son/daughter.
Executive Director
country. The youth apprenticeship program is a tip
Portage County Business Council, Inc.
of the iceberg to help meet the talent attraction everythingpointshere.com is our talent attraction
5501 Vern Holmes Drive
challenge head on. Students who participate tend and retention website. It is a tool for anybody to
to stay in the community. learn more about the community through one Stevens Point, WI 54482
portal. You can dig deeper into the tabs of quality Phone: 715-344-1940
Programming actually needs to begin at an earlier of life, education, housing, bragging rights, fun tkuckkahn@portagecountybiz.com
age in the schools if you want to have any hope of and jobs. Businesses are beginning to use this as portagecountybiz.com

86 FDI ALLIANCE | JULY ISSUE 2019